Arctic Diplomacy: Developments & Divides

This event is being held virtually and is open to everyone. 

The Arctic is a critical crossroads for a number of geopolitical priorities today, including international security, climate change, and economic competition. Together with the recent changes to the U.S. position on Greenland in the Kingdom of Denmark, the Arctic is and will remain an important topic in international affairs in 2026.

Join Global Minnesota for a noon webinar and discussion on February 25 with Jim DeHart, a former career member of the Senior Foreign Service and U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region.

Register

Speaker: Jim DeHart

Jim DeHart is an experienced diplomat, writer, and speaker with more than 33 years of experience at the U.S. Department of State. He retired in 2025 with the senior rank of Minister Counselor. Jim served as U.S. Consul General in Vancouver, Canada from 2023-2025. He served as Coordinator for SIV Diplomacy from 2022-2023 and as U.S. Coordinator for the Arctic Region from 2020-2022. He brings significant experience in regional security, civilian-military cooperation, and international negotiations. A hallmark of his career has been close collaboration with U.S. allies and partners to advance shared interests and values.

In 2021, Jim helped lead the evacuation of American citizens and Afghan Allies from Kabul and led the Afghanistan Task Force in Washington. From 2019-2020, Jim negotiated status of forces, defense cooperation, and burden-sharing agreements worldwide. He served twice in Afghanistan – as Assistant Chief of Mission at U.S. Embassy Kabul (2018-2019) and in Panjshir Province as Director of the only civilian-led U.S. Provincial Reconstruction Team (2009-2010). From 2015–2018, Jim served as Deputy Chief of Mission in Oslo, Norway, with extended periods as Chargé d’Affaires. Previously, he was Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) where he oversaw assistance to Afghanistan and Pakistan and global programs targeting corruption, money laundering, and organized crime. From 2010-2013, Jim was Director of the Office of Afghanistan Affairs.

Jim was a Rusk Fellow at Georgetown University where he taught a graduate-level course on NATO enlargement and wrote for publication. He served as Director for Central Asia on the National Security Council Staff at the White House and as Deputy Director for Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department. He worked for two Under Secretaries of State as Special Assistant for Europe and Eurasia and served overseas at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium; in Melbourne, Australia; and in Istanbul, Turkey. He also served as desk officer for Greece and in the State Department Operations Center.

Jim was raised in a Foreign Service family in Australia, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Washington, DC, and Central Oregon. He holds a B.A. from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, and an M.A. in International Affairs from The Elliott School at George Washington University.

Please contact Addy Cross at [email protected] for questions or accessibility accommodations.